Signed into law by President Biden in December 2021, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA, or “the Act”) establishes a rebuttable presumption that all goods manufactured (in whole or in part) in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) are the product of forced labor, and not permitted entry into the United States. This rebuttable presumption will go into effect on June 21, 2022.
In advance of June 21st, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will be issuing letters to importers identified as having previously imported merchandise that may be subject to the Act to encourage them to expeditiously address any forced labor issues in their supply chains.
If you do not receive a letter from CBP, unfortunately this doesn’t automatically mean your supply chain is free of forced labor. All importers are expected to thoroughly review their supply chains and implement reliable measures to ensure imported goods are not produced (wholly or in part) with convict, forced, and/or indentured labor.
For more updates, information, and resources specific to forced labor and related human rights issues, be sure to bookmark our new Forced Labor/Human Rights page and check back often!
